SCOTTISH Greens co-convenor Patrick Harvie will this week propose amendments to licensing boards' objectives after the controversial closure of Glasgow nightclub and arts venue The Arches.

In the debate on Thursday Harvie, an MSP for Glasgow, will move to add “promoting social and cultural life” to the licensing objectives taken into consideration when reviewing a site’s licence.

Harvie claimed the decision to take away the city centre venue’s late licence was “incredibly short-sighted”, going on to say that we need “much more” than just warm words from the Government.

The MSP said: “The loss of The Arches has been terrible for staff and for the cultural fabric of our biggest city. The venue showed consistent responsibility on safety issues, and the decision to restrict its licence, which led directly to its closure, was incredibly short-sighted.

“It would be absurd to imagine that recreational drug use will be reduced because of this decision, or that public safety will be helped in any way.

"All that will happen is that people will switch to other, perhaps less experienced and less responsible, venues. This attitude to licensing is compounding the failures of this country’s drug laws.

“Sadly, this chance to change the law comes too late for The Arches itself. There have been warm words from the Scottish Government but we need much more than that."

A protest lobby against the closure has now formed and a petition with nearly 40,000 signatures is calling for the venue to have its late licence reinstated.

Over 1,000 people have said they will attend a protest planned for this Friday at 9am, when the licensing board meets at the City Chambers just off George Square.

Over 400 artists and musicians also signed an open letter last month calling for a rethink.